When Tarik Cohen returned home to speak to students at Hampton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C., on Monday, he did more than just donate his time.
The Bears running back also brought gym equipment with him that he had purchased to replace items that were destroyed when a tornado damaged the school in April. The equipment Cohen delivered included 12 basketballs, 12 footballs and 35 scooters.
"Words can't describe it," said Charles Shoffner, the school's physical education teacher. "It's amazing just to have somebody who's in the area put back into the community, especially when you don't have to. It's huge. There's no amount of thanks that we could give out for the selflessness and generosity."
Shoffner said that the tornado that hit Hampton Elementary School on a Sunday afternoon in April completely destroyed the trailer used for indoor P.E. classes as well as most of the school's gym equipment.
Cohen grew up in the area and attended North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. Selected by the Bears in the fourth round of last year's draft, he had an excellent rookie season, rushing for 370 yards and two touchdowns on 87 carries, catching 53 passes for 358 yards and one TD, averaging 9.4 yards with one touchdown on 29 punt returns and averaging 22.4 yards on 26 kickoff returns. He also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option play.
Cohen is continuing to give back to the area by conducting a free football camp for kids ages 5-17 on Saturday, July 14 at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. Log onto tarikcohencamp.com for more information.
One of Hampton's teachers tweeted about Cohen's appearance at the school:
